Friction grip fireplace tool

ABSTRACT

A fireplace tool comprised of a rod or bar, having a hand grip on one end, and on the other end an open-jawed mouth to grip and lift or re-position logs in a fireplace. There are no moving parts, no hinges, or pivot points. The tool can be made of one solid piece of steel or material with similar properties of elasticity and fire resistance or can be fabricated from two or more parts. The log is held in place by friction, created by ridges within the open-jawed mouth of the tool and the spring effect of the open-jawed mouth. The spring effect of the tool&#39;s mouth along with the grip of ridges allow most burning logs to be completely lifted, held, and moved about safely.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED R & D

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REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to log handling tools for a fireplace. It is a unique tool, different from conventional fireplace tools such as tongs, hooks, or pokers. Each of these have their limitations in moving about a burning log and cause the user some difficulty. Tongs require moving parts that must be manipulated by the user to acquire and retain a grip while at the same time exerting force with both hands to lift and move the log. They are difficult to get between burning logs, and do not provide the user adequate leverage to lift a heavy log. Hooks are difficult to get between logs and have no mechanism to grip the log. They work best only in a pulling motion, making it difficult for the user to move a log rearward or upward in a fireplace. Conventional wedge or pointed tipped pokers only allow a log to be pushed about but not lifted.

Various types of log handling tools are known in the prior art. A typical example of such a log handling tool is to be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,042,438, issued to J. Turner on Jul. 3, 1962. This patent discloses a fireplace tool including an elongated metal rod having a transverse leg at one end for manipulating a fireplace log. U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,331 issued to H. Michaud on Mar. 12, 1967, discloses a U-shaped hook having a D ring type handle for manipulating a log. U.S. Pat. No. 3,574,380, issued to R. Tague on Apr. 13, 1971, discloses a fireplace log handling tool including two separate arms, each of which is manipulated by a user to engage opposite end faces of a log. Each of the arms terminates in a transverse leg having a pointed tip. U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,194 issued ito T. Rybeck on Dec. 24, 1985, discloses a log handling tool for mounting upon an axe-type handle. The tool includes a laterally extending hook member having an offset tip portion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,686, issued to H. Michaud on Sep. 27, 1988, disdoses a wood handling hook having a tip including a set of flutes forming shoulders to enhance engagement of a log. U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,647 issued to H. Alfredson on Sep. 11, 1990 discloses a log handling hook bent a 90 degrees. None of these devices uses the spring effect in an open-jawed mouth, and friction ridges within the mouth, to grip and lift a log, as does the current invention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention overcomes problems of the prior art by allowing the user to completely lift and move about a burning log easily in any direction with adequate leverage. The log is held by the spring effect of an open-jawed mouth, lined with friction ridges, on the end of a long sturdy rod. The tool is easy to use and has no moving parts. A user can grip a log with a single pushing motion, then lift and move the log in any direction without any need to manipulate moving parts or apply any force to retain the grip.

In view of known disadvantages in other types of log handling tools, this invention provides a substantial advancement in fireplace tools. When properly used, the open mouth is pressed onto a burning log. The elasticity of the rod material allows the mouth to be forced open as it is pushed onto the log. The spring effect of the mouth, along with friction ridges inside the mouth, create friction sufficient to firmly grip a log, which may then be lifted, moved about in the fireplace, or completely removed from a fireplace. Unlike hooks, tongs, and conventional pokers, this tool provides adequate leverage and grip on the log, and is easy to insert between logs. This tool may also be used to very quickly grip and lift a burning log that rolls out of a fireplace. No other tool exists to handle this very difficult and urgent task.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows one construction of the invention, with examples of representative dimensions. The dimensions shown on the figure are those of the prototype that has been built and tested successfully. Other dimensions may be equally effective for other constructions. Details such as the shape of the hand grip at the upper end of the tool, the method of attachment of the hand grip, the method of construction of the open-jawed mouth, or the method of attachment of the mouth may vary from FIG. 1. This figure is not drawn to scale.

FIGS. 2 through 5 show examples of 4 constructions of the open-jawed mouth. Other constructions may vary from these figures.

FIGS. 6 through 8 show examples of 3 constructions of the hand grip. Other constructions may vary from these figures.

FIGS. 9 through 12 illustrate how the invention can be used to move a log in a fireplace. The process illustrated moves from left to right (FIG. 9 to FIG. 12). The numerical labels (1 through 7) serve as references for the textual description of the process given in the Detailed Description. The broad arrows illustrate directions of motions and forces. The fire grate and logs are not part of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

My invention is a fireplace tool to be used to re-position, rotate, or completely lift and handle burning logs. A burning log is lifted and re-positioned with this tool by placing the open-jawed mouth end of the tool near the center of the log and pushing the mouth firmly against the log so that the log is wedged into the mouth and the friction ridges bite into the wood. The ¼ round, ½ round, or whole round log is held by friction created by the spring effect and friction ridges in the mouth of the tool. Tapping the mouth of the tool against another log, the firebox, grate, dog-irons, or any other solid object in the fireplace releases the log into position.

FIGS. 9 through 12 illustrate an example of use of the tool. The sequential numbering of the following description corresponds to the numbers shown in these figures.

-   1. The pointed tip of the jaw is pushed under the log to be lifted. -   2. The jaw is pushed onto the log. -   3. The force of the push causes the jaw to open in a manner     consistent with the elasticity of the tool material (e.g., steel).     The force resisting the opening of the jaw creates gripping force on     the log, and the ridges within the jaw enhance the grip, preventing     the log from slipping out the end of the jaw. -   4. The grip of the tool on the log allows the log to be lifted and     moved freely. -   5. The log is moved to a new position in the fireplace. -   6. The pointed tip of the jaw is tapped against an object in the     fireplace to cause the jaw to release the log. -   7. The log is released into the new position.

Although there are other tools to stir fires or lift logs such as conventional pokers and tongs, this tool is unique in that it uses no moving parts to grip and completely lift a burning log. No other tool uses friction ridges that are forced into the wood by the spring action created by the openjawed mouth and the elasticity of the mouth material.

This tool can be made of one solid piece with a hand grip on one end, and on the other end the open-jawed mouth. In this one-piece construction of the tool, the openjawed mouth is formed by a double bend in the rod (see FIG. 1). The first bend turns the end of the rod back toward the handle grip 180 degrees or parallel to the rod. The second bend turns the rod end at an angle from parallel to the rod. In the construction of the invention (a working prototype) shown in FIG. 1, that angle is 22 degrees. The most effective angle for a given construction will depend on the tool material used, the size of the rod, and the size of the mouth opening, which may be varied for different constructions. The construction of the tool shown in FIG. 1 is made of a single piece of steel, metal or other material having appropriate elasticity (similar to steel) and properties to withstand the heat of a fire. Around the inner perimeter of the mouth of the tool are a series of ridges, the spacing of which may vary with different constructions. On the working prototype, the ridges are spaced approximately ¼ inch apart. These ridges, along with the spring effect of the mouth create the necessary friction to grip and lift logs.

In a one-piece construction of the tool, the exact location of the bends can be altered to change the size of the mouth opening. Using a prototype construction of the tool, I have found that the dimensions shown in FIG. 1 create a mouth opening that is a good size to lift logs of various sizes. The tip of the tool extends about 2 inches past the first bend and serves as a wedge to get between logs.

The tool can also be fabricated in a variety of ways from multiple parts. See FIGS. 2 through 5 for examples of constructions of the open-jawed mouth end of the tool and FIGS. 6 through 8 for example constructions of the hand grip end. A hand grip of wood, brass, or other material may be used. 

1. A fireplace tool used to lift and/or re-position logs in a fireplace, having a hand grip on one end, a connecting rod in the middle, and on the other end an open-jawed mouth that grips a log using friction created by the spring effect of the open-jawed mouth and friction ridges around the inner perimeter of the mouth.
 2. A fireplace tool as set forth in claim 1, having: a) an open-jawed mouth formed at an angle (e.g., 22 degrees in a working prototype construction of the invention) that may vary depending on the cross sectional shape and dimensions of the bar or rod from which the mouth is made, the mouth material, and the desired size of the mouth; b) a series of small ridges spaced at close intervals (e.g., approximately ¼ inch on the prototype) around the inner perimeter of the mouth; c) a wedge tip on the side of the mouth opposite the connecting rod, which extends approximately 2 inches beyond the other side of the mouth.
 3. A fireplace tool as set forth in claims 1 and 2, comprising a) a single rod or bar bent to form a hand grip on one end, and a open-jawed mouth on the other end, with a length of connecting rod or bar between the ends (see FIG. 1); b) a rod or bar formed from a single piece of steel or other material having similar elastic properties and the ability to withstand the heat of a fire; c) a single bend in the rod or bar to form a hand grip at one end; d) a double bend in the rod or bar to form an open-jawed mouth and a wedge tip at the end opposite the hand grip.
 4. A fireplace tool as set forth in claims 1 and 2, comprising a) a hand grip on one end, which may be formed from a bend in the rod or bar as set forth in claim 3 or made from a variety of materials, including but not limited to wood, brass, or steel, and which may take a variety of shapes (e.g., see FIGS. 6 through 8), attached to the connecting rod either permanently (e.g., via welding) or in a manner to allow disassembling (e.g., via a coupling); b) a connecting rod or bar made from a single piece of steel or other material having similar elastic properties and the ability to withstand the heat of a fire; c) a rod or bar made from a single piece of steel or other material having similar elastic properties and the ability to withstand the heat of a fire, bent to form the open-jawed mouth and wedge tip of the tool, and attached to the connecting rod in a manner to withstand the heat of a fire, e.g., by welding (e.g., see FIG. 4);
 5. A fireplace tool as set forth in claims 1 and 2, comprising: a) a hand grip on one end as set forth in claim 4; b) a rod or bar made from a single piece of steel or other material having similar elastic properties and the ability to withstand the heat of a fire, with one end having a hand grip as set forth in claim 4 and the other end having a series of closely spaced small ridges on one side so that this end of the rod or bar serves as one side of the tool's open-jawed mouth (e.g., see FIG. 3); c) a rod or bar made from a single piece of steel or other material having similar elastic properties and the ability to withstand the heat of a fire, attached to the rod described in 5.b) at an angle to form the other side of the tool's open-jawed mouth and its wedge tip, the manner of attachment being able to withstand the heat of a fire, e.g., by welding (e.g., see FIG. 3);
 6. A fireplace tool as set forth in claims 1 and 2, comprising three components: a) a hand grip which may be made of the same materials as the connecting rod and the open-jawed mouth, and may be formed from the same single rod, but is not limited to those materials or method of construction (e.g., see FIG. 6 through 8), attached to the connecting rod either permanently (e.g., via welding) or in a manner to allow disassembling (e.g., via a coupling); b) a connecting rod which may be made of the same materials as the hand grip and the open-jawed mouth, and may be formed from the same single rod, but is not limited to those materials or method of construction, attached to the open-jawed mouth in a manner to withstand the heat of a fire, e.g., by welding or by a coupling (e.g., see FIG. 5) made of material with properties similar to those of the openjawed mouth; c) an open-jawed mouth which may be made of the same materials as the hand grip and the connecting rod, and may be formed from the same single rod, but is not limited to those materials or method of construction (e.g., see FIGS. 2 through 5). 